226 - Indigenizing Evaluation Processes: Centering Relationships & Stories

Abstract Information: Indigenized evaluation processes value building relationships, upholding diverse worldviews and voices, and placing stories at the center, which takes significant time and intentionality. Our collaborative evaluation team (Native Pathways, Laguna Pueblo, NM; and Reimagine Research Group, Corvallis, OR) centers Indigenous worldviews in evaluation by bringing together Indigenous and western approaches. We have been collaborating for 20 years on a process that seeks to decolonize western conventional evaluation through centering relationships, engaged mentorship, the use of visuals and metaphors, immersive methods, collective leadership, and decolonizing language. These processes support rich, meaningful engagement and understanding among the evaluation team members, and build understanding and trust with project partners and communities. By centering relationship and trust building, evaluators help tell the story of the project or partnership in authentic ways that decolonize evaluation practices and support meaningful change. This session will share examples of our approaches for centering relationships and voices of the partners and communities we engage with. We will share ideas around Talk Story processes, which center open, organic, and immersive dialogues and experiences that document the stories of the project’s pathway, as well as share our efforts to decolonize language that western, dominant evaluation practices continue to use and have been harmful to Indigenous communities. We will also share ideas around supporting reciprocity and data sovereignty in ways that respect community core values. These approaches have been built with the aim of being inclusive of both Indigenous and non-Indigenous allies and fostering the development of core values such as reciprocity, time for reflection, and authentic collaboration grounded in Indigenous worldviews and perspectives. We hope to build conversations with others at the poster session to hear your thoughts and experiences in similar or related evaluation processes.